Departure
494 Words
Shortly after dawn.
Elfriede was stopped on her way from the office building to the King's Chamber.
"Mr. Elfriede. This way"
We were shown to a small checkpoint at the back of the royal palace.
A simple stone room.
A desk and a chaise lounge, and――
A platform for checking belongings carried out on criminals and dismissed persons.
"...Confirm, is that it?"
"It's a regulation."
The Royal Guard gave no further explanation.
Elfriede nods silently and places the wineskin on the desk.
What came out of the room was a small amount of personal belongings ――
It was a stack of handover letters I'd spent the night writing last night.
The maid picks it up and frowns.
"...Documents?"
"It's for handover."
The voice that answered was groaning.
"Who's which case――"
"No need"
The words were interrupted midway.
"You have been stripped of your royal status as of today. We are not authorized to take out documents related to the work of the Royal Palace."
The maid said, pulling the stack of paper to the edge of the desk.
There was writing there, frantically, until before dawn.
Not a word of caution, not a deadline, not a quirky aristocratic name.
――All.
"...This is for the royal palace."
"That's why."
The Imperial Guard continues calmly.
"We will confiscate it."
The paper bundles were then packed together and placed in a collection box.
The treatment was neither polite nor rough.
It was just a processing.
"What other valuables?"
"No"
It was a fact.
Jewelry is provided on a payment basis.
The dress is reused.
There aren't many things I can have personally to begin with.
"...That's a lot less for a princess."
The maid mutters.
Elfriede made no reply.
It's not that there are few.
It just wasn't given to me in the first place.
The last thing I saw was what I was wearing.
Pale grey-blue dress.
Frayed cuffs.
Fingertips hidden by gloves.
"Take off those gloves."
If you remove it as you are told,
Bandaged fingers are exposed.
Cracked nail marks.
Remnants of oozing blood.
The maid narrowed her eyes for a moment, but quickly lost interest.
"...No problem"
That's all I told you and I'll give you back your gloves.
"That's it. I'll guide you to the gate."
Elfriede said nothing more.
I had no intention of explaining to anyone the handover letter I wrote last night or that night.
Anyway――
Because it's not needed.
Walking along the corridor leading outside the royal palace,
Suddenly, I think.
――Even though I wrote so much.
――Even though it cost me my life for one night.
Yet the country remains calm,
Kick yourself out.
In front of the gate, the guards stop their feet.
"This is it."
I can be turned away.
Elfriede did not look back at the royal palace.
Handover letters, roles, expectations――
I left everything in that box.
- Writer
